Endless Summer: What fun to have in the sun

Now that May flowers are blooming, you can push those tedious memories of ice bunkers, wipeouts on slippery sidewalks, boots and shovels too often used, cold toes and oversized heating bills to the far reaches of your mind, because it's time for the fun that only summer can bring.

The official start of summer is only days away — June 21 here we come!

Those three glorious months of June, July and August abound with wonderful opportunities large and small that can only be experienced in summer in the northwest quadrant of Indiana. Delight can come from something as simple as chasing lightning bugs on humid nights, knowing that Indiana is one of a limited number of states where you can do that. It can be gliding down the Wabash & Erie Canal in a wooden boat and making your eyes all squinty to float back in time to the 1830s. Or it can be reliving the 1950s-'60s fun of going to a drive-in movie theater with your best buds or a special date.

Challenge yourself and see how many of these inexpensive or free and fabulous opportunities you can pack into your list of summer fun. Even if you've done some of the adventures on this list before — and we're confident no one has done them all — the fun of summer memory making lies in repeating things that bring us pleasure.

"Summertime, and the livin' is easy"

— Go for an Olympic-record ride down the water slides at Prophetstown Aquatic Center in the state park near Battle Ground, or at Tropicanoe Cove in Lafayette's Columbian Park on Main Street.

Wabash & Erie Canal Parl(Photo: Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier)

— Drift down the Wabash & Erie Canal, like passengers and freight did 150 years ago, by taking a trip on The Delphi, a replica 19th-century canal boat. You'll hear adventures and stories of everyday life as it was way back then. In its heyday, the Wabash & Erie Canal connecting to the Erie Canal represented the second longest canal in the world (only China's Grand Canal was longer). At Canal Park in Delphi you'll also find an interpretive center, pioneer village, trails and picnic shelters. www.wabashanderiecanal.org

— Go fishing in a quiet section of the Wabash River, just a little south of where the Wildcat Creek joins the Wabash, at Davis Ferry Park. Access it off Lafayette's North Ninth Street Road at the bridge. The area also has a boat launch.

— In less than two hours you can be at the Indiana Dunes State Park with its visitors center, vintage bathhouse offering snacks and changing facilities, and an all-sand beach with lifeguards. Nothing compares to walking the miles of beachfront or rolling down a dune and washing off in one of the world's great lakes — Lake Michigan. Take Indiana 49 North from Interstate 94 (I-65 takes you there); it leads into the park. www.indianadunes.com

— Explore Purdue University with the kids while the campus is relatively quiet. Take your picture with Neil Armstrong and walk in his footprints outside Armstrong Hall. Check out one of Deborah Butterfield's world-famous driftwood horse sculptures near Pao Hall, and be entranced by the two large "Brickhead" sculptures there. Both emit nature sounds, a 24-hour soundtrack recorded in Indiana representing night from day and day from night. Pack the kids' swimsuits so they can play in the Loeb Fountain, located in a pleasant plaza in Purdue's Founders Park.

— Take the family, the aunts and uncles or just yourself to Fair Oaks Dairy Farm off I-65, about 45 minutes north of West Lafayette. You can't beat the experience of watching a calf being born in the birthing barn (which happens daily) or viewing the jaw-dropping process of automated milking on the farm tour. You can sample excellent cheeses made from their dairy herd — the grilled cheese sandwiches top the list at their eatery. This year, Chicago's South Shore Air Show will relocate to the farm. www.fofarms.com

— Take up a new sport and play disc golf. Courses are set up at Murdock Park off 18th Street in Lafayette and Ross Hills Park off South River Road in West Lafayette.

The CityBus Wabash Trolley(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)

— Just for fun, ride the free 19th-century trolley that links Lafayette with Purdue and West Lafayette. The Wabash Trolley Line runs Monday through Saturday with stops in downtown Lafayette-West Lafayette and Purdue, but each Saturday from May through September you can climb on board at the Lafayette Farmers Market at Fifth and Main streets and enjoy a free 50-minute guided historical tour. www.gocitybus.com/trolley.html

— Go fly a kite in the wide open grassy spaces at the Tippecanoe County Amphitheater off North River Road in West Lafayette.

— Fill a lazy afternoon by following the Outdoor Art Trail that introduces you to more than 50 pieces of outdoor art in Lafayette and West Lafayette. You can print a map with pictures at www.homeofpurdue.com

"Summer days drifting away"

— It is practically a law in Lafayette that one must return to the Frozen Custard on the edge of Lafayette's Columbian Park for some custard, a fruit drink or more. Family-run since 1949, its frozen treats are delineated in neon atop its art deco-influenced building. It's a family tradition for thousands with more converts added to the list each year.

Tippecanoe Battlefield Park(Photo: Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier)

— Go on one of those picnics that only seem to happen in movies. Pack a basket, take a colorful table cloth, or maybe a well-worn quilt, and spread it out on the ground in a picturesque spot. Don't forget books, sports equipment or a pillow for napping. Let your imagination run wild to select the spot. Try Fort Ouiatenon near the Wabash River or Tippecanoe Battlefield Park under 200-year-old trees for starters. Get artsy and travel south to the Indianapolis Museum of Art and set up your picnic on its beautiful grounds. Admission to the IMA is free.

— Hike the Wabash Heritage Trail in search of a sycamore "on the banks of the Wabash" (our state song, remember) and take a selfie to share when you find it. Access to the 13-mile trail is free; it begins at the Tippecanoe Battlefield Park in Battle Ground.

— Embark on an adventure by exploring Portland Arch, the only natural arch in the state of Indiana, located south of Attica. The huge rock formations are the remains of a giant sand bar that meandered downstream in a river the size of the Ohio River back in the Pennsylvanian Period, 320 to 286 million years ago. From Attica go south on U.S. 41 for about 5 miles, then turn west on County Road 650 North. Follow signs to the nature preserve.

— Potholes in the summer can be a good thing. The Potholes in Fall Creek Gorge, north of Attica, are cool circular potholes, ranging from a few inches to 5 feet in depth. They dot sections of the scenic creek, which also has a small waterfall. Melt water running down the canyon from the last of the glaciers formed the potholes around 10,000 years ago, and they've continued to grow. The best time to visit is after a rain, but it is awe-inspiring any time. Take U.S. 41 north out of Attica; 3.9 miles north of where U.S. 41 crosses the Wabash River, turn right on gravel-surfaced Pothole Road. Head east 1.4 miles on Pothole Road. There is a parking area for this Nature Conservancy property.

Potholes in Fall Creek Gorge(Photo: Ben Craton)

— "Go for a destination bike ride," says passionate cyclist Jo Wade, president of Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette. Her favorite summer ride goes north out of Battle Ground on Pretty Prairie Road toward Delphi. "I love the country roads. They make biking easy; not a lot of cars to cause issues. There are some pretty houses and you wind down a hill over Deer Creek." Eating lunch at Delphi eateries — the Garden Gate Café or the Stone House, perhaps — cap off the ride.

— Catch the golden ring at the Cass County Dentzel Carousel in Logansport, about 45 minutes northeast of Lafayette. It's been more than 100 years since German carver Gustav Dentzel created this carousel, with its fairy tale appearance. It's one of only three that still exist in the United States. Rides are just 75 cents at this National Historic Landmark in Riverside Park. If you catch the golden ring you are guaranteed free rides for life. www.casscountycarousel.com

— Addicted to roller coasters? Indiana Beach, a family fun park in Monticello, is home to six coasters. Three are wooden roller coasters, including the world-famous Cornball Express, voted the No. 1 wooden coaster in the world by Theme Park Critic in 2002. It's also the home of Indiana's first custom steel coaster, Steel Hawg. By the way, you can swim there, too. www.indianabeach.com

— Wolf Howl nights occur yearround at Battle Ground's Wolf Park. But only in the summer can you listen to the Lafayette Symphony (June 14) or enjoy a watermelon party with the wolves (July 5) at Wolf Park After Hours. www.wolfpark.org

Battle Ground’s Wolf Park(Photo: File Photo)

— "Walking on the pedestrian bridge in the evening and reflecting on my day with a chocolate mint ice cream cone. Put me there," says Alisha Kuckartz, owner of West Lafayette's Turning Pointe Academy. There's a delightful fountain and park at the west side of the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge and a plaza on the Lafayette side that hosts free Citizens Band concerts every Thursday evening at 7 p.m.

— Nothing's crazier or better for people-watching than the Mosey Down Main Street on selected summer Saturday evenings in Lafayette's downtown. The eclectic mix of performances and booths run from crafts to food, belly dancers to original rock. The 2014 dates are June 14, July 12, August 9 and 30. Admission is free.

"Summer sun, something's begun. But, oh, oh, the summer nights"

— Two local entrepreneurs — Gary Wolfelt and Esther Chosnek — who love live entertainment under the stars are bringing four shows to the Tippecanoe County Amphitheatre in a "Summer Music Series on the River" so more folks can enjoy that fantastic facility. There will be a beer and wine tent and shows such as the Beatles Tribute "1964" on July 18 and "Memories of Elvis" on Aug. 22. Series and single tickets are available through All Star Entertainment Promotion and Productions; email Wolfelt at ghw@wolfelt.com

— "You gotta catch fireflies," says Purdue entomologist Tom Turpin, creator of the Bug Bowl and leader of a movement to make the lightning bug — or firefly — Indiana's state insect. Fireflies live about two months in nature, but they may not survive overnight in the glass jar with the hole-studded lid that you'll use to collect them on humid summer nights. So after you enjoy their light display, let them go.

Fireflies in a jar at night(Photo: fergregory, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

— Take in professional summer theater in a genuine Indiana barn surrounded by miles of genuine farm fields at Frankfort's Red Barn Theatre, in existence since 1968. You really have to experience this summer gem to believe it. The 2014 season marks its 46th year on County Road 150 South (Kelly Road). The season was announced May 20. www.redbarntheatre.net

— Cover your ears and watch the sky fill with fireworks, well worth oohs and aahs, after the Taste of Tippecanoe on June 21, or after listening to patriotic music at the community's free Stars and Stripes Concert on July 4.

— Back in the 1950 and '60s every town had a drive-in movie theater and most people think they're a thing of the past. But that's not true. Within 30 miles of Lafayette you'll find the Lake Shore Drive-In Theatre on Rickey Road in Monticello. It's been entertaining families since 1949. See two feature films for one admission price (www.lakeshoredrivein.com). If you head south, you'll find M.E.L.S. at the Starlite Drive-In, which has been running since 1946. Take I-65 to the Thorntown exit, then to State Road 39. Admission is per carload (www.melsdrive-intheatre.com).

— In the Monticello area, nothing spells Saturday night fun more than a cruise on the Madam Carroll on Lake Freeman. From Memorial Day to Labor Day there's live music and a cash bar on the boat every Saturday night with at least one dinner cruise a month. It's been a tradition since 1976. www.madamcarroll.com

— Join stargazers at the West Lafayette Observatory to see the moon, planets, constellations, star clusters, nebulas, and even other galaxies at summer open houses sponsored by the Wabash Valley Astronomical Society. The small observatory is located at 600 Cumberland Avenue in West Lafayette. www.stargazing.net/wvas

— If a hankering for basketball consumes you on long summer nights, head to Armstrong Park on South Ninth Street and Beck Lane, Lafayette, the "in" spot for pick-up games. The courts are newer and there are lights when the sun gives out. Those preferring an out-of-the-way spot might prefer Lyboult Park off Canal Road. Competition can be heated at the Hanna Center off of North 18th Street. And Murdock Park has a renovated court with a Purdue Boilermaker feel.